Philippines, 12 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


UNDEFEATED FLINT NATIVE ARDREAL HOLMES JR. SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS USBA JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER HUGO NORIEGA

PhilBoxing.com




FLINT, MICHIGAN – Sept. 12, 2024 – Flint’s reigning USBA Junior Middleweight Champion Ardreal Holmes Jr (16-0, 6 KOs) thrilled the hometown crowd and retained his crown for a second time by recording a 10-round unanimous decision (97-93 twice and 96-94) over Cuban Hugo Noriega (10-3, 5 KOs) Thursday on DAZN from the Dort Financial Center.

The co-feature and Great Lakes State battle saw Grand Rapids, Mich., native Joseph Hicks (11-0, 7 KOs) add to his perfect record by registering an eight-round unanimous decision over Detroit’s Ronnie Austion (10-3, 7 KOs). The judges scored the contest 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74.

In the second television bout, Da’Velle Smith (9-0, 7 KOs) of Detroit floored Esau Herrera De La Cruz (21-18-1, 8 KOs) seconds after the opening bell and recorded his seventh knockout in nine career bouts. After hitting the canvas a second time, De La Cruz was counted out at 1:08 of the fourth round.

Opening the highly anticipated main card, phenomenal Flint fighter Leon Lawson III (16-1, 9 KOs), cousin of Anthony and Andre Dirrell, destroyed Argentinian Luis Alberto Veron (20-9-2, 9 KOs) and earned his second straight TKO when the referee stopped the contest at 0:37 of the fourth round.

In preliminary action featuring ferocious Flint fisticuffs, local prospects Jaquan McElroy (third-round TKO over Lamar Bolden), Darrion Lawson (first-round KO of Isaiah Cobbs), and Christopher Thompson (first-round TKO over Eric Hadley) remained undefeated, while Deandre Savage fought to a no decision against KeShawn Jackson when the referee stopped the contest at 2:55 of round two after Jackson was hit while still on the canvas.

USBA JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE – 10 ROUNDS
Ardreal Holmes Jr. (16-0, 6 KOs) triumphed over Hugo Noriega (10-3, 5 KOs) via unanimous decision.
Scorecards: 97-93 twice and 96-94

“It’s a dream come true,” Holmes said. “To be able to share the card with my brother and fight in front of my hometown was amazing and I am ready to do it again. I fought a really tough guy in Noriega. Cuba has some of the best fighters in the world. I appreciate him coming out and bringing the intensity. It makes me that much better.”

SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CO-FEATURE BOUT – 8 ROUNDS
Joseph Hicks (11-0, 7 KOs) defeated Ronnie Austion (10-3, 7 KOs) via unanimous decision
Scorecards: 80-72, 79-73, 78-74

MIDDLEWEIGHT MAIN CARD BOUT – 6 ROUNDS
Da’Velle Smith (9-0, 7 KOs) fourth-round KO (1:08) over Esau Herrera De La Cruz (21-18-1, 8 KOs)
“The atmosphere was great,” said Smith. “The fans definitely wanted to see me get him (De La Cruz) out of there and finish him. I expected to dominate in great fashion. I could have done better, and there are still things I need to tighten up. I haven’t fought in about seven months, so I thought I did pretty good.”

SUPER WELTERWEIGHT MAINCARD BOUT – 8 ROUNDS
Leon Lawson III (16-1, 9 KOs) stopped Luis Alberto Veron (20-9-2, 9 KOs) via fourth-round TKO (0:37).




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • 19-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Women's Team and Squad Rosters Announced
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Filipino child prodigy Asher Judd Sy tops the 3rd King’s College Bangkok Chess Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
    , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.